Just reaching a 95th birthday is cause for celebration for most people. But retired Madison pastor Dick Pritchard would be satisfied with nothing less than some stimulating conversation, followed by cake and coffee. Pritchard, a Madison activist since the Civil Rights era of the 1960's, sponsored a symposium on Christians and culture Sunday afternoon.

Pritchard has been involved in public dialogue on Christians and culture longer than perhaps anyone else living in Madison. He said that he once debated Capital Times founder William Evjue over whether the United States was a Christian nation.

Joining in the conversation with pastor Pritchard were Julaine Appling, CEO of the Wisconsin Family Council, pastor Ron Dobie of Christ the King Community Church in Stoughton and pastor Dick Sisson of Gateway Community Church in Madison. About two dozen people attended the symposium at Crossroads Church, on Madison's southeast side.

"I pray that we will not be overwhelmed by the forces of secularism and godlessness," pastor Pritchard said, in his opening remarks, discussing challenges that have been mounted against religious elements of this month's presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C. "We still have our religious liberty, but the climate is changing," said pastor Dobie, as he discussed America's religious heritage, going back to the Mayflower Compact.

"You are setting an example for others to follow," Julaine Appling told pastor Pritchard. "No matter how old you are, there are biblical examples to follow." Stressing that more Christians should get involved in public policy issues, Appling said, "We have lots of seats at the table at every level of government. We had men of faith as our founders. Now we have too many faithless men [in government].

Appling used as examples two Pennsylvania brothers, Peter and Frederick Muhlenberg, who were both pastors before the Revolutionary War. After the war they were both elected to the first Congress. Even though Frederick Muhlenberg first argued with his brother that church men shouldn't be involved in politics, Frederick ended up as the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Appling said the local church is God's plan for impacting culture. The job of the Wisconsin Family Council is to provide resources for pastors and churches.

Pastor Sisson said that despite the challenges to faith from secular culture he sees hopeful signs. One good sign, he said, is a group of about 20 local pastors who meet together regularly to pray. "For the first time in my 30 years here in Madison I feel renewal in the local church," he said.

Recalling that he once led members of his church in protest outside a theater showing the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ," which many believed to be blasphemous, Sisson said, "People who stand for the truth will have amazing opportunities to be salt and light."

But he also cautioned, "A religious spirit without grace turns off the next generation. We have to be careful we don't miss the grace."

Pastor Pritchard said that he hoped this kind of dialogue could continue in Madison, perhaps with a series of Lenten programs to educate believers on the issues, followed by a rally around Easter time. Pastor Dobie urged people to write letters to officials of University Hospital and the University of Wisconsin on their recently announced plans to expand abortion services in Madison. "This process hurts people and the church needs to speak out," said pastor Dobie.

(Statue of Peter Muhlenberg in the U.S. Capitol from WikiMedia Commons. The statue shows Muhlenberg in a military uniform, removing his clerical robe.)